Improvement in spice-boxes



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID M. MEFFORD AND AJOHN J. OURRAN, OF TJLEDO, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPICE-BOXES- Specilir ation forming part of Leiters Patent No. 152,396, dated June 23, 1874; application Iiled May 29, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, DAVID M. h/IEFFORD and JOHN J. CURRAN, ot` Toledo, in the county ot' Lucas and State ot' Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spice- Boxes 5 and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specifica-tion:

Our invention relates to such boxes as are used for holding coffee, tea, sugar, spices, or other similar articles, particularly for the convenience of grocers in retail trade 5 and the nature ot' our invention consists in providing such box with an automatically-operatin g slide, opened and closed by a sliding scoop5 and also in the construction and arrangement ot' parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention appertains to make and use the same we will now proceed to Vdescribe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing.

Figure l is a plan view ot` a box embodying` our invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section, and Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, of the same.

A represents a box, ot' any desired form or dimensions, and made ot' any suitable material, and which should be provided with a tightditting lid. In handling ground coii'ee, ground ginger, or similar articles that pack very closely, the box may be formed or provided with a hopper in the bottom, or with a hopper-shaped bottom, but this we do not deem essential. On or under the bottom ot the box A is attached a smaller box. C, in the top ot' which is an aperture, c, corresponding with the opening' in the lower end ofthe hopper or hopper-shaped bottom abovcmcntioncd. This smaller box O, which contains the working parts of `our invention, may be attached to the under side ofthe bottom of the box A, and an aperture made in the bottom ofthe box A to correspond with the aperture in the box C 5 or, the smaller box C may be placed inand rest on the bottom ot' the box A, and an aperture cut in the box A near the bottom to admit the scoop, so it can enter the box C and operate the slide therein. The 'aperture a is closed by means ot' a slide, D, moving upon horizontal guide-rods d d. Near the rear end, on the under side of the slide D, at cach side, is attached a spring or spring4 arm, j', which extends forward, and has a hook, c, formed on or attached to its front end. G represents a scoop, made in the form of a drawer open at the rear end, and ot' such size as to tit in the box O, in which it is inserted from the front end, if said box is beneath the box A, or through the opening cut in the front of the box A, as above mentioned, if the box C rests on the bottom thereof. The sides ofthe scoop may be rounded, as shown at their rear ends; and at a certain point -on the inner side of each side piece are formed shoulders m and u. Immediately above the front end ot' the aperture a in the box O is arranged a yielding plate or curtain, I, held in proper position by a spring, p, against stops m x'. This plate or curtain may be made of any suitable material 5 and in lieu of plate and spring a thin brush or rubber of suitable thickness may be used.

Supposing the drawer-scoop G is removed from the box C, andthe slide D closed. When the scoop is now inserted in the box O it moves along until the hooks c ot the springs j' strike the shoulders m, the springs being elevated and held up by means oi' rods h. h.

Then the scoop will push the slide backwardl so that when the scoop is fully inserted the slide is wholly open, and as the springs f pass Off from the rods h the hooks c will settle down in the spaces between the shoulders m n. lVhen the scoop is withdrawn again the hooks c, catching on the shoulders a, cause the slide D to close at the same time; and as the slide closes the springs are raised by the rods h, so that the hooks c will rise above the shoulders n, and allow the scoop to be moved on outward.

By this device, whether the scoop is in its place or not, the box A is perfectly closed, preventing the ingress of all dust and dirt, and also preventing the deterioration of the article in the box by exposure to the air.

In closing the aperture a the slide D shuts against the yielding or elastic curtain I. This is only important when unground coii'ees, spices, or other coarse commodity is sought to be handled.

It will readily be seen that the slide D, operating against an unyielding edge, would catch coffee grains or similar articles between it and the front of the aperture, and prevent the slide from closing. This is prevented by havin g the front part of the aperture yielding or elastic.

Having thus fully described our invention, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, with a box, A, of a sliding scoop, G, arranged in a receptacle on or under the bottom of said box, and communicating therewith, of an automatic horizontal slide, D, adapted to be operated in both directions by the movement of the scoop, substantiallbY as and for the purposes herein set forth. p

2. The combination of the slide D, guiderods d d, springs j'j'with hooks e c, the rods h h, and the shoulders m n, on the scoop G, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The elastic or yielding curtain I, in coinbination with the box C, provided with the aperture a, and the slide D, for the purposes herein set forth. p

In testimony that we claiin the foregoing as our own we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID M. MEFFORD. JOHN J. GURRAN. Vitnesscs:

Il. W. ToLERroN,

H. L. HoLLoWAY. 

